Contact rolls



March 22, 1955 E. D. HANSON CONTACT ROLLS Filed May 25, 1952 l.illllillu' llllllll' Milli-5 Milli-5 m al III-5 nllll: ild- .5 mail-E: m;

w ilII- illl: ill-5 Ill: L ilII-s ill-5 INVENTOR E D. HANSON ATTORNEY United States Patent O CONTACT ROLLS Estyle D. Hanson, Baltimore, Md., assignor to Western Electric Company, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application May 23, 1952, Serial No. 289,569

11 Claims. (Cl. 191-1) This invention relates to contact rolls, and more particularly to contact rolls for use in electroforming machines for supporting and supplying current to a plurality of wires and having contact drums capable of being quickly replaced.

In electroplating wires, the wires are advanced through a plurality of electroplating tanks and contact rolls are provided at intervals along the wires to support the wires and supply them with current. The contact rolls are provided with grooves for receiving the wires, and after a certain period of time the grooves become worn so deeply that the entire roll must be replaced. Since the rolls are large and costly, the replacement of the rolls involves a substantial expenditure of time and money.

An object of the invention is to provide new and improved contact rolls.

Another object of the invention is to provide a contact roll having a readily replaceable contact drum.

A further object of the invention is to provide a contact roll having a contact drum and expandable heads for interlocking with and supporting the drum for rotation and for quick replacement.

One type of contact roll illustrating certain features of the invention may include a shaft, a pair of expandable and collapsible heads mounted on the shaft, a contact drum normally surrounding the shaft and the heads, and means for moving the heads into their expanded positions to cause them to engage the shell and secure it to the shaft and for moving the heads into their collapsed position.

In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, as applied to a contact roll disposed adjacent to plating tanks of an electroforming apparatus for supporting and supplying current to a plurality of wires being electroplated, there is provided a hollow, metal drum removably supported at each end thereof on heads which are removably secured to the shaft and fit into the ends of the drum against annular ribs formed on the inner periphery of the drum at each end thereof. A pair of ring segments are carried by each of the heads and are movable radially into engagement with the inner periphery of the drum on the other side of the annular ribs by a pair of actuating screw-threaded elements on the clamping segments. A plurality of clamping screws mounted in the heads and threadedly engaging the ring segments are adapted to be tightened to clamp the ring segments to the heads and to clamp the annular ribs therebetween to support the drum against movement relative to the heads. By retracting the clamping ring segments and removing one of the heads from the shaft the drum may be withdrawn therefrom.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent by reference to the following detailed description of a specific embodiment thereof and the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. l is a side elevation of the contact roll shown disposed between a pair of electroplating tanks;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section taken on line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 3, showing some of the parts in different positions.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1, a metallic contact roll 10, preferably made of copper, supports a plurality of wires 14 for movement from one electroplating tank to another and supplies current to the wires. The contact roll 10 is mounted on a shaft 16, which is supported at its ends in bearings 18 mounted on pedestals 20. A pulley 22 fixed to one end of the shaft 16 is connected by a belt 23 to a pulley 24 on a motor 25, which serves to rotate the contact drum 10 at the desired speed to aid in advancing the wires 14. Current is supplied to the contact roll 10 from a suitable source of electric current through a brush 28 mounted in a holder 29 and engaging a slip ring 30 on the shaft 16.

The contact roll 10 comprises a hollow, cylindrical metal drum 32 having a plurality of annular, V-shaped, peripheral grooves 33 for receiving the wires 14 therein. The ends of the drum 32 are supported by composite, collapsible heads 34. Each of the heads 34 includes an annular headplate 35, having a cylindrical periphery 36 adapted to fit into an annular groove 37 formed in each end of the drum 32. The headplate 35 at its inner peripheral corner is provided with a rabbet forming a shoulder 38 adapted to fit against an annular rib 39 formed in the inner periphery of the drum at each end thereof by the annular grooves 37 and annular grooves 41.

Each of the heads 34 is adapted to be removably secured to the shaft 16 by any suitable means. As shown herein, the means for removably securing the heads comprise wedging bushings 46 slid-ably supported on the shaft 16 and having conical surfaces 47 adapted to engage conforming conical axial openings 48 in the headplates 35. Nuts 50 are threadedly engaged on threaded cylindrical portions 51 of the wedging bushings 46. When the nuts 50 are tightened they engage the hub portions of the headplates 35 and serve to draw the bushings 46 into the conical openings 48 of the headplates to tightly secure the headplates to the shaft 16.

On the inner face of each of the headplates 35 are mounted a pair of clamping ring segments 55 movable to and from an extended position shown in Fig. 3. A plurality of headed clamping screws 57 mounted in slots 58 in the headplates 35 engage threaded apertures 59 in the clamping segments 55. The slots 58 in the headplates 35 provide clearance for the movement of the screws 57 and permit movement of the segments 55 to and from their expanded position. The segments 55 have curved outer contours, which in their retracted position, as shown in Fig. 4, provide clearance between their peripheries and the inner periphery of the drum 32 to permit relative axial movement between the headplates 35 and the drum 32.

The clamping segments 55, portions of the outer peripheral surface of which are cylindrical and conform to the cylindrical surface of the groove 41, are designed to be forced outwardly from each other by a pair of actuating members 62 into their extended position in the groove 41, as shown in Fig. 3, and into gripping engagement with the drum 32. When the clamping segments 55 are moved outwardly into their extended positions, the curved peripheries thereof enter the grooves 41 with the ribs 39 between them and the ends of the drum..

When thus positioned the elements are locked together to turn as a unit, and the drum 32 is secured against axial movement along the shaft 16.

The actuating members 62 have oppositely threaded cylindrical shank portions 63 and 64, which are threadedly connected to the end portions of the clamping segments 55. The threaded shank portions 63 and 64 fit into bores 65 in the ends of the segments 55 and threadedly engage tapped blocks or nuts 67 inserted in recesses in the ends of the segments 55. Intermediate its ends each of the actuating members 62 is provided with a head, which may be hexagonal, or may be provided with a plurality of radially directed recesses 69 for receiving a tool, to impart rotation to the actuating member for moving the clamping segments 55 to and from their expanded positions (Fig. 3) and contracted positions (Fig. 4). The heads of the members 62 are accessible for actuation through slots 70 in the plates 35.

It will be understood that during the movement of the clamping members to and from their extended and retracted positions, the clamping screws 57 will be loose, and after the clamping segments have been moved to their extended position in firm engagement with the drum 32, the clamping screws 57 will be drawn up tightly to clamp the segments to the headplates 35 and to clamp the ribs 39 therebetween to secure the drum 32 onto the headplates 35.

After the contact rolls have been in use for a certain length of time, the grooves 33 become worn by the engagement of the wires 14 therewith to such a point that the drums 32 have to be replaced with new drums having V-shaped grooves of the required size. In order to accomplish this exchange, the components of the contact roll are disassembled to remove the drum 32 therefrom. The clamping screws 57 are loosened in the heads 34 at both ends of the roll, and the actuating screws 62 are rotated to move the clamping segments 55 to their retracted position. The nut 50 at one end of the composite roll is unscrewed from the sleeve 46 and the headplate 35 is removed therefrom and from the shaft 16, leaving the drum free to be moved axially from the shaft. After the removal of the worn drum 32 from the shaft, a new drum may be reassembled thereon in a reverse order of operation.

It is to be understood that the above-described arrangements are simply illustrative of the application of the principles of this invention. Numerous other arrangements may be readily devised by those skilled in the art which will embody the principles of the invention and fall within the spirit and scope thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. A contact roll, which comprises a shaft, a pair of expandable and collapsible heads mounted on the shaft, a contact drum normally surrounding the shaft and the heads, and means for moving the heads radially into their expanded positions to cause them to engage the drum and secure it to the shaft and for moving the heads radially into their collapsed positions out of engagement with the drum.

2. A contact roll comprising a tubular drum, a shaft, a pair of annular headplates secured to the shaft and designed to fit within the ends of said drum, a plurality of gripping elements mounted slidably on each headplate for movement to and from an extended position, and means for moving the gripping elements to said extended position in engagement with said drum to support said drum fixedly on said headplates in concentric relation to said shaft and away from said extended position to permit relative movement between said drum and said gripping elements, headplates and shaft.

3. A contact roll comprising a hollow, cylindrical drum having annular shoulders formed on the inner periphery adjacent to the ends thereof, a rotatable shaft, a pair of annular headplates adapted to fit within the ends of said drum, means for removably securing said headplates to said shaft for rotation therewith, a plurality of gripping elements for each headplate, said gripping elements being slidably mounted on said headplates for movement to and from an extended position with portions of the elements in engagement with said drum and with the shoulders thereon and a retracted position with the elements in spaced relation to said drum and the shoulders thereon, and means for moving said elements from said retracted position to said extended position in engagement with said drum and the shoulder thereon to support said drum on said headplates in concentric relation to said shaft and from said extended position to said retracted position out of engagement with said shaft. said gripping elements being arranged to engage and cooperate with said shoulders on said drum to prevent relative axial movement between said drum and said gripping elements and headplates.

4. A contact roll comprising a hollow, cylindrical drurn having annular shoulders formed on the inner periphery adjacent to the ends thereof, a rotatable shaft, a pair of annular headplates adapted to fit within the ends of said drum, means for removably securing said headplates to said shaft for rotation therewith, a pair of gripping elements for each headplate, said gripping elements being slidably mounted on said headplates for movement to and from an extended position with portions of the elements in engagement with said drum and with the shoulders thereon and a retracted position with the elements in spaced relation to said drum and the shoulders thereon, threaded means on said elements for moving said elements to and from said extended position in engagement with said drum and the shoulders thereon to support said drum on said headplates, said gripping elements being arranged relative to said shoulders on said drum to prevent relative axial movement between said drum and said elements and headplates, and means for clamping said elements to said headplates in said extended position.

5. A contact roll comprising a hollow, cylindrical drum having annular grooves formed on the inner periphery adjacent to the ends thereof, a rotatable shaft, a pair of annular headplates adapted to fit within said drum at the ends thereof, means for removably securing said headplates to said shaft for rotation therewith, a plurality of gripping segments having arcuate surfaces conforming to the surface of said grooves, said gripping segments being slidably mounted on said headplates for movement to and from an extended position in said grooves and a retracted position in spaced relation to the inner periphery of said drum, actuating means operable to move said segments to said extended position into tight engagement with said drum to support said drum on said headplates, said gripping segments in extended position forming an interlocking connection with said drum to prevent relative axial movement between said drum and said segments and headplates, and means for clamping said gripping segments to said headplates in said extended position.

6. A contact roll comprising a hollow, cylrndncal drum having annular grooves formed on the inner periphery adjacent to the ends thereof, a rotatable shaft, a pair of annular headplates adapted to fit within said drum at the ends thereof, means for removably securing said headplates to said shaft for rotation therewith, a pair of gripping ring segments associated with each headplate and having arcuate surfaces conforming to the surface of said grooves, said gripping segments being slidably mounted on said headplates for movement to and from an extended position in said grooves and a retracted position in spaced relation to the inner periphery of said drum, threaded actuating means on said segments operable to move said segments to said extended position in tight engagement with said drum to support said drum on said headplates, said gripping segments in extended position forming an interlocking connection with said drum to prevent relative axial movement between said drum and said segments and headplates, and means for clamping said gripping segments to said headplates in said extended position.

7. A contact roll comprising a hollow, cylindrical drum having annular grooves formed on the inner periphery at each end thereof, a rotatable shaft, a pair of headplates adapted to fit within said drum at the ends thereof and having central conical apertures for receiving the shaft therein, sleeves slidably mounted on the shaft having conical surfaces conforming to and engageable with the conical apertures in said heads, means for moving said sleeves relative to said headplates to wedge said sleeves between said headplates and said shaft for securing said headplates to said shaft for rotation therewith, a plurality of gripping elements having portions complementary to said annular grooves, said gripping elements being slidably mounted on said headplates for movement to and from an extended position with said complementary portions received within said grooves and a retracted position with the elements in spaced relation to the inner periphery of said drum, actuating means operable to move said gripping segments to said extended position in tight engagement with said drum to support said drum on said shaft in concentric relation thereto, said gripping segments in the extended position forming an interlocking connection with said drum to prevent relative axial movement between said drum and said segments and headplates, and means for clamping said gripping elements to said head in said extended position.

8. A contact roll comprising a hollow, cylindrical drum having a plurality of grooves in the outer periphery thereof for receiving wires therein and having an annular rib formed on the inner periphery adjacent to each end thereof, a rotatable shaft, a pair of annular headplates adapted to fit into the ends of said drum in engagement with said ribs on one side thereof, means for removably securing said headplates to said shaft for rotation therewith, a plurality of ring segments on each of said headplates, said segments being slidably mounted on said headplates for movement to and from an extended position with portions of said segments in engagement with the inner periphery of said drum and in engagement with said ribs on the other sides thereof and a retracted position with the segments in spaced relation to said drum and the ribs thereon, means for moving said segments to and from said extended and said retracted positions, and means on the headplates for clamping said segments to said headplates in said extended position to clamp the ribs therebetween.

9. A contact roll comprising a hollow, cylindrical drum having an annular rib formed on the inner periphery adjacent to each end thereof, a rotatable shaft, a pair of annular headplates adapted to fit into the ends of said drum in engagement with said ribs on one side thereof, means for removably securing said headplates to said shaft for rotation therewith, a pair of segmental gripping elements on each of said headplates, said gripping elements being slidably mounted on said headplates for movement to and from an extended position with portions of said elements in engagement with the inner periphery of said drum and in engagement with said ribs on the other side thereof and a retracted position with said elements in spaced relation to said drum and the ribs thereon, actuatable members threadedly connected to said gripping elements for moving said elements to and from said extended and said retracted positions, and threaded means on said headplates for clamping said elements to said headplates in said extended position to clamp the ribs therebetween.

10. A contact roll for electroplating apparatus comprising a hollow, cylindrical drum having a plurality of grooves in the outer periphery thereof for receiving wires therein and having annular ribs formed on the inner periphery adjacent to each end thereof, a rotatable shaft, a pair of annular headplates adapted to fit into the ends of said drum in engagement with said ribs the outer sides thereof, said headplates having central conical apertures for receiving the shaft therein, sleeves slidably mounted on the shaft having conical surfaces conforming to and engageable with the conical apertures in said headplates, means engaging the headplates for moving said sleeves relative to said headplates to wedge said sleeves between said headplates and said shaft for securing said headplates to said shaft for rotation therewith, a plurality of ring segments on each of said heads slidably mounted on said headplates for radial movement to and from an extended position with portions of said segments in engagement with the inner periphery of said drum and in engagement with said ribs on the inner sides thereof and a retracted position with the segments in spaced relation to said drum and the ribs thereon, means for moving said segments to and from said extended and said retracted positions, and means provided on said headplates for clamping said segments to said headplates in said extended position to clamp the ribs therebetween.

11. A contact roll comprising a hollow, cylindrical drum having on the inner periphery thereof, first annular grooves extending axially from the ends thereof and second annular grooves in axially spaced relation to said first grooves to form annular ribs between said first and said second grooves, a rotatable shaft, a pair of annular headplates adapted to fit into the ends of said drum in said first grooves and in engagement with said ribs, means for removably securing said heads to said shaft for rotation therewith, a plurality of segments movably mounted on each of said headplates for movement to and from an extended position in said second grooves and in engagement with the inner periphery of said drum and a retracted position with the segments in spaced relation to said drum, means for moving said segments to and from said extended and said retracted positions, and means provided on said headplates for clamping said segments to said headplates in said extended position to clamp the ribs therebetween.

No references cited. 

